‘Do not increase’: Halifax residents speak out against proposed police budget
Global News
A proposed budget for Halifax Regional Police, which would see an increase of nearly $4.4 million to the force, was panned as unnecessary by many people at last night's meeting.
Dozens of speakers showed up to a Halifax Board of Police Commissioners meeting on Wednesday night to show their displeasure towards proposed changes to the Halifax Regional Police budget.
The proposed 2024-25 operating budget is slated at $96,743,400, a 4.8-per cent increase from the previous year. According to Chief Don MacLean in a presentation to the board, the proposed $4,398,400 increase is crucial to the force.
The budget would add a dozen new patrol constables, additions to the community response office, hate crime unit and more.
MacLean said his force had seen an increased population in recent years, coupled with crime on the rise and significant weather events in previous years that had plagued the force.
Residents say that the money could be better suited to other supports in the city.
“The damage caused by investing (in) police over social support is compounded by the over-policing of our vulnerable communities, first and foremost Halifax’s Black, Indigenous and people of colour,” said resident Erin Weal.
“Diverting funds from social services to address the root causes of crime, which are poverty, racism and community neglect, instead I would ask that these funds be diverted to community funds and social services.”
The commissioners voted to present to the province to find an alternative to police going to hospitals during mental health calls, a concern brought forward by some of the attendees.
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